Final Betrayal by Patricia Gibney
D.I. Lottie Parker #6

Lottie has moved out of her mother’s home into a new abode. She seems happier now that the past has literally been burned up and tangible memories of her past with a spouse now deceased five years all ashes. She has a relationship with a colleague that provides a bit of fun outside work and being a mother and grandmother and she seems to be moving forward with her life. And yet...she still seems a bit at loose ends and unable to commit to much outside the her job on the police force and being a so-so mother.

This story has:
* a relative from the USA that is still hanging
* a new case to be solved
* one suspect that is perhaps a patsy
* past case threads that might be woven through
* bad guys to catch
* a murderer or two
* and more

I have to say this book did not hold my interest quite as much as the previous two in the series I have read and I am not sure exactly why. Here are a few things I wrote down as I read:
* too many characters and threads
* too busy
* unbelievable that a person in maximum security would be let out on a day pass
* is it likely that Lottie’s family can be at risk in every story she is in?
* is there really only one viable suspect?
* why is Lottie unable to express her feelings?
* some of the “feelings” and reactions seemed a bit over the top
* would the boss truly act as Lottie’s did?

I am not sure if there will be more in the series but will say I might try one more book if there is. I feel that Lottie has potential and like the addition made to the team. I feel there is potential if the next book is one that does not involve her family as potential victims and if she makes progress on a personal level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

A solid crime thriller. It has everything a reader would expect from this type of book. I read this as a stand-alone and enjoyed it that way. No need to read the other books first, as this is book 6 in the series, but I do think it would add some depth to the story, and especially to Lottie and Boyd.

Being evenly paced, it is absorbing with low key suspense. It is layered with characters, almost too many, but I think it worked, giving the reader plenty of possible suspects to guess from and keeping them on their toes, although I had the killer figured out about halfway through. I didn’t find it particularly thrilling, and the ending seemed to drag on for me.

All in all it is a good read and I definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this. Exactly what was expected by Patricia! Twisty, gripping.. the works! What a read. Review up shortly on the blog.

Book six already? How the hell did that happen!! I seem to say this quite often when it comes to book serials, but it's still true nonetheless - you don't NEED to read the books in order if you're new to the series. Each book can be read fine on their own, however, because they are all brilliant, I do suggest you read them all. That's just me though!

Lottie Parker is back and she still hasn't managed to bring some good luck with her! How much rubbish can one person, and one family, deal with?! In 'Final Betrayal', Lottie starts off feeling as though she has finally got her feet firmly on the ground and is hopeful for the future, a feeling she hasn't felt for a very long time. You know what I'm going to say next, right? Exactly - someone comes along and bursts her bubble, and yes, she is in trouble! But is she the only one?

Patricia Gibney is outstanding at creating a suspenseful storyline which made me feel nervous from the bottom of my spine. Sounds weird, I know, but it happens! There is a lot of uncertainty to sink your teeth into in this latest installment, and the intensity gets richer with every passing page.

Full of red herrings, thrilling circumstances, and dark and devious characters; 'Final Betrayal' is an atmospheric, twisted read and I LOVED every second of it. Patricia Gibney is a legend!

This is book #6 of the D.I. Lottie Parker series. It can be read as a standalone novel, but I would recommend reading the books in series order for continuity and understanding of the series. Lottie Parker is working on the case of the murder of Amy Whyte and Penny Brogan, who went missing after leaving a nightclub. All signs point to Conor Dowling, who was recently released from prison, being the killer, particularly as Amy was the one who put him in prison. As more young girls are found murdered, Lottie is up against the clock to find out who the killer is.

This isn’t my first Lottie Parker book!! If it was, I may be wondering what the hell I’ve just walked into, but thankfully I remember Lottie from the previous books and know exactly what she’s like!! I loved Lottie in the previous books and this one was no exception! She still has her personal problems and I’m still waiting to see whether her and Boyd get it together (surely he’s going to be the only one to tame her?)! As well as having to work the case of a possible serial killer, Lottie also has to contend with the fact that her half-sister, Bernie has escaped from the asylum that she has been in and that Bernie really doesn’t like Lottie (and when I say like, I mean deep, deep hatred!)

Throughout all of that though, Lottie’s character remains the same – gritty, determined and ballsy! Lottie certainly isn’t someone who plays by the rules, but by doing it her way gets results! Her sidekick and close friend, Boyd continues to bear the brunt of her mood, but you just know that he loves her really, which is why she gets away with it! It was great to see her happy for a little while, until the pressures of the case and her crazy half-sister get in the way! I absolutely love Lottie’s character though and as the series moves on, her character gets stronger with each book.

This book is fast paced and full of action. The storyline twists and turns and kept me hooked from the very first page. I did guess about half way through who the killer was, but this didn’t detract from the enjoyment of Lottie working it out. There were though plenty of suspects to keep you guessing, just in case you hadn’t worked it out! The tension and suspense was full on and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page. I’m so glad that, after 6 books, we still have more to come for Lottie Parker and cannot wait for the next book to find out what happens!

Would definitely recommend, not just this book, but go back and read all the other books if you haven’t already done so. This is one hell of a gritty crime thriller with the best Irish detective going!

This is a brilliant book. There are plenty of great characters with really good back stories and a lot of action from the start. I loved the setting, the descriptions and the pace of the story. This whole series is definitely worth reading and I hope that there are more books to come.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a fast paced crime thriller that I couldn’t put down.
This is book 6 in the series and I’ve devoured all of them, but this could be read as a stand-alone as Lottie’s past is explained in this book.
Two girls are reported missing and soon their bodies are discovered in an abandoned building.
Each girl has a silver disc near their bodies but Lottie and the team do not know what significance this has.
The girls were witnesses at a trial and now Conor is out, he’s prime suspect for their murder.
- Until two more young girls’ bodies are found.
Lottie is already living in fear for her family as her half sister has made another appearance, but when Katie and Chloe go missing, she’s beside herself.
Her boss does not understand the importance of finding them and orders Lottie to stick to the murder case, but nothing stands between her and her family.
Boyd is as lovely as ever and puts up with so much from Lottie, but is always by her side.
This is a gripping crime thriller that will have you hooked from the first few pages.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

"Final Betrayal (Detective Lottie Parker Book 6)" by Patricia Gibney

My first time reading that author and the first book I read in this series.

Well done, well written, good strong story with interesting characters, good plot, good pace.
I liked it a lot and it makes me want to read the previous books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Final Betrayal – Patricia Gibney

I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

This book opens as a young man is released from prison after a 10-year sentence for robbery and assault that culminated in the man’s death from a stroke. Gone, never to be found were the monetary contents of his safe. Finally free, Conor Dowling heads home where is elderly, decrepit mother lives in filth, and makes contact with his old friend Tony.

Detective Inspector Lottie Parker is getting ready to move into a new home, and her best friend and colleague Detective Sergeant Mark Boyd is assisting with the move. Meanwhile, two young girls are out on the town for some clubbing, but neither one of them makes it home. The girls are found dead several hours later with Lottie & Mark being tasked with the investigation.
Lottie’s half-sister Bernie remains institutionalized after a brutal murder spree and manages to manipulate another sibling to arrange a day pass for her. She immediately disables her sibling, escapes from his supervision, and begins to stalk Lottie and her family.

As the investigation continues, Conor’s name comes up as a potential suspect in the missing girl’s murder, and one of them had testified against him in the trial that landed him in prison. But his alibi is solid. Then, two more girls disappear…and soon, Lottie’s girls are missing as well…

This was a good book – the storylines, seeming random, kept me on my toes as I tried to ascertain who was responsible for what…I did not find any of the characters particularly likeable, (Lottie needs more depth, I think) but I suspect as I read the others in the series I’ll gain a lot more insight into who they are and what makes them tick. I absolutely believe this series would be best read in order – as a standalone, I had to make a lot of inferences as to the past events that lead to this installment - Bernie for example.

All in all, a good book, kept me turning the pages, and I was strangely disappointed that Conor wasn’t the ‘good boy done wrong’ that I thought he was… I will definitely be looking to read the remainder of this series!

One could be forgiven for making assumptions when any book with the word FINAL in the title meant that the series was coming to an end. After all, another exciting series I began at the same time as the first book in this series has since ended after just 4 books. However, we can be assured that there will be a book 7 and hopefully more to come. Particularly as this book ended on somewhat of an emotional cliffhanger. I turned the page expecting more and saw that it was the end, and I inwardly screamed "NOOOO!!!" And now, like other fans, eagerly await the 7th book in this compelling series.

So FINAL BETRAYAL is the sixth book in the DI Lottie Parker series, and as I have only read the first one before this, I will advise others that this series is really best read in order. There is so much going on in this book that happened between the first book and this one, that had me partly confused and mentally putting the pieces together, having not read the ones in between. There is one particular story arc that is paramount to this book that had taken place in an earlier book - possibly the one before, I don't know. Unfortunately, it has now told me who is responsible for whatever murders took place in that previous book. However, that is not the fault of the writer - that is mine, since I chose to read this book when it came up on NetGalley knowing full well I hadn't read the other four. Still, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book, and I hope when I get around to the earlier ones it won't spoil those either. Hopefully I will leave it long enough for me to forget some aspects of this book when reading the others.

FINAL BETRAYAL begins with two young women enjoying a night on the town at a local nightclub, where ironically Lottie's two daughters Katie and Sophie are on the same night, then disappear without so much of a trace. Their bodies are found in a derelict house, used as a crack den, after reports were made by an elderly neighbour about the comings and goings late into the night. Their hands are found to be clutching what appears to be silver coins, though they don't resemble any coin Lottie and her team have ever seen, with no real markings on them.

One of the young women murdered had been a witness ten years before and paramount in putting away a young man for the robbery and assault on 64 year old councillor Bill Thompson, who suffered a stroke as a result and was unable to speak or give a description of his attacker. He died twelve months later of his injuries. Lottie and her team wonder if the case ten years ago was linked to the girls' recent murder, particularly as the man convicted of the crime had just been released from prison.

When two more young women are found murdered, one of which had been the other witness paramount in putting young Conor Dowling away for the robbery and assault on Bill Thompson ten years ago, Lottie believes it to be more than a coincidence. She is sure Conor knows something, though ten years in prison has changed him from the wide-eyed young man into a hardened one and he isn't going to make it easy for Lottie to get to the truth.

As if Lottie didn't have enough to deal with, her half brother Leo (revealed in a previous book) arranges for her half sister Bernie Kelly (also revealed in a previous book) to be given a day pass from the asylum where she has been incarcerated for the past year. Bernie, however, has other ideas and scarpers on Leo's watch only to disappear without a trace. This news does not bode well with Lottie, knowing full well the depth of Bernie's hate for her and what it could possibly mean for her family. Then Lottie finds a silver coin in the pocket of he grandson's little jacket...and a shiver runs down her spine.

All at once, Lottie's senses are in overdrive as she tries to keep on top of the case at hand, reeling from the team's recent loss, Bernie's sudden reappearance and subsequent disappearance, threats to her family and a boss who only cares for a balanced budget and an even quicker result.

Whilst investigating the murders, Lottie and Boyd visit the construction site where Cyril Gill, the father of one of the murdered girls, Louise Gill, has a major development under construction. Then a crane collapse on the site trapping Lottie and Boyd beneath the rubble for a short while and many others dead, injured or trapped and missing. One of the dead turns out to be be Cyril Gill, owner of the development. But one of the workers and their prime suspect, Conor Dowling, has disappeared from the site. Is he one of the dead? Is he trapped? Or has he used this opportunity to make his escape unnoticed?

Then Lottie's own daughters go missing and her priorities shifted. She is sure she knows who is behind her daughters' disappearance and sets out at all costs to get to them before it's too late. That is, if she can dodge her boss quick enough who seems to want Lottie's head on a plate after learning about her relationship to Bernie Kelly via a TV news report. Convinced Conor Dowling knows more than he's letting on, Lottie sets out to find him and get the answers she needs to both find her daughters and solve this case.

There is so much going on in this book even I had a headache on behalf of Lottie and sympathised with her trying to keep afloat. Although there were times I screamed at her when she went ahead and ignored Boyd's advice and those of her own instincts.

FINAL BETRAYAL is a heart-stopping story guaranteed to set your pulse racing. The story has you hooked from the first page to the very last as you follow the breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout the book. Realising I have missed out on a lot since jumping from Book 1 to Book 6, I found myself piecing together not just the history but the mystery surrounding the murders in this one. About partway through I made a connection that may or many not have been noticeable to others and began to see a couple of characters in a different light, as my suspicions grew. Not for the first time my suspicions proved to be correct but that never deters me away from the enjoyment of a good solid read. And that is what Patricia Gibney's Lottie Parker series are.

I have to add that this has to be one of my favourite series, as I love the camaraderie between Lottie's team, the compelling mysteries as well as the insight into her personal life. My only complaint on this book was the abrupt ending Gibney left us on. An emotional cliffhanger to say the least. And now I eagerly await Book 7 and the inevitable outcome.

I would like to thank #PatriciaGibney, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #FinalBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.

This is already book 6 in the series but only my second one. I was utterly captivated by the previous part and this one was a nail biting, chills down the spine running, nailing to the chair kind of book. This story was not filled to the brim with suspense. Oh no, it was overflowing with suspense!

Lottie Parker is a very interesting character. She does not always follow the rules, but she certainly delivers. 

I like the relationship between her and Boyd, but I think he must be a saint sometimes. Even though she does not always treat him in a very nice way, he always has her back.

It's not surprising the author is a million-copy bestelling one, because it's, in my opinion, very hard bordering on impossible not to be enchanted by her books. 5 stars.

Thank you, Patricia Gibney, Bookouture and Netgalley.

# Final Betrayal # Netgalley
Another absolutely awesome book of Detective Lottie, Parker. I am blown away once more with Lottie, with children of her own being a single mum. Life has not been kind in many ways, yet Lottie somehow holds things together, in this book, with 2 of her own children having gone missing. With Lottie already investing a case where children have been mudered. You know she doesn’t want to believe it could happen to her children, yet the reality of the situation she also knows deep down it could. With a hard knocking twist and fear Lottie still continues to investigate this case. Even if she was ordered not too you know full well she will. What a bloody book, I have read all Lottie Parker novels, and loved everyone.. I am hooked with Lottie series they really are must read book, I honestly didn’t think they could get any better, however this one as topped the others, which I never ever thought possible. Read read read.

Two young women are murdered after a night out. It so happens that someone they both knew had just been released from prison -- Conor Dowling -- and they were the ones who'd identified him and secured his conviction for assault and robbery ten years ago. Is this revenge? Then two other young women are found dead.

Meanwhile, Detective Lottie Parker of the Ragmullin guard and her team are pulled this way and that by other events and complicated situations. Not only with her job, but Lottie is also having some series issues in her personal life -- and then her two daughters go missing. NO SPOILERS.

This is the 6th book in the series and I've read all but one. I think it's getting a bit stale as this wasn't as good as the previous. Lottie's family is totally messed up and she has a lot of issues, not the least of which is her total focus on work and her haphazard mothering and family life. Don't even get me started on her current romance. This plot wasn't very exciting or thrilling and if there was any twist, I missed it as nothing about it surprised me much. I had to force myself to finish, which is unusual as I typically like long-running detective series so maybe I'm just tired of the same old, same old. I'm not sure if I'll keep on with Lottie or not at this point.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Most of you are probably already aware of the fact I have been a detective Lottie Parker fan ever since the first book came out and I've been closely following the series ever since... The thing is, I'm starting to wonder whether this is turning out to be one of those series that has been going on for too long. Don't get me wrong, but while I absolutely loved the first four installments, I struggled to warm up to number five and sadly my reaction to book six wasn't what I was expecting either. I'm not saying Final Betrayal is a bad read at all (I want to make that clear before I continue), but once again I felt that somehow the spark of the first four books was missing. Detective Lottie Parker is known for her complex and shocking detective adventures, and it's true that this new installment mostly delivers that. But... I felt like Final Betrayal was almost trying to take too much on its plate at the same time. There are so many different POVs, characters and different angles that it's hard to keep track of it all and instead of adding more tension and suspense, I mostly ended up being frustrated by having to deal with yet another POV jump within the same chapter. There is so much going on at the same time that it feels like you are juggling ten balls at the same time and only have time to look at your hands and not at what really is going on. I had my doubts about the credibility as well, and like in book five, the negative attitude and swearing of some characters started to get on my nerves. As for the plot twists and surprises... I guessed part of the final reveal early on, and I'm not sure I find the final explanations completely satisfying. Sure, there is a lot of action and tension involved in the plot and things will get very personal on multiple levels for Lottie Parker. But unfortunately Final Betrayal failed to hit the mark completely for me this time around. I'm starting to think it might be better for me to leave this series be for now and save it for those who still love spending time with Lottie Parker...

When Amy Whyte and Penny Brogan leave a local nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning and don’t arrive home, their families are beside themselves with worry. Conor Dowling has just been released from prison, a man full of hatred for Amy, the girl who put him behind bars in the first place.
Detective Lottie Parker is given the case. In a small town where everyone knows everyone else. There are many strands to the story and many answers to the questions.
Lottie herself is settling in to her new house and her new life with her children so things are settling.
Once again Patricia Gibney has written a cracking story. Once I finished it I instantly looked forward to the next instalment
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in response for an honest review.

Huge fan of this author, such a fantastic series, this book was amazing also, Love Lotties attitude, I hope to be reading about a wedding in the next book.

Final Betryal is book 6 in the Detective Lottie Parker series, a series that I thoroughly enjoy. I do recommend that you read this series in order. By book 6 there is a lot of history and you will want to know it all to enjoy this one. Lottie is a tough nut, she love she her family and her work and her life is very complicated. But she never lets anything get in her way of solving the case and locking up the guilty. Her personal life is pretty much non existent. She is. It always the most likeable of characters but she is endearing in her own special way.

This time we see Lottie and her family move into their new home and hopefully a new start for them all. When 2 young girls go missing after a night out on the town she is put on the case. A few days later their bodies are found and it becomes a murder case. All fingers point to Conor Dowling who has just been released from prison, but he has a tight alibi. Days later another 2 young girls are found dead in similar circumstances. While still investigating these murders 2 of her daughters go missing and it becomes personal..

I hope that this book is not the end of Lottie Parker, especially after the way this ended. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

I really like the Lottie Parker series but this one, not so much. having said that the only negative was the fact that a dangerous and insane person was given a day pass from an asylum. A bit unbelievable, however, i loved the character development and the relationships within the team as they look for a serial killer. Patricia Gibney has a winner with this series and I would recommend it to crime lovers. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook.

I have to say straight away I am a huge fan of Lottie Parker and this series.

Two friends leave a nightclub separately and don’t make it home. Eyes turn towards a guy recently released from prison who hates one of the girls who gave evidence against him. He believes she put him behind bars 10 years ago. But he’s got a strong alibi.

Detective Lottie Parker and her Team are put on the case after the two bodies are found. The girls each have something in their hands. Her annoying superior wants the case solved yesterday as one of the girl’s is daughter of a local Councillor and bundles the stress onto Lottie.

Lottie’s two daughters appear to be in danger and she’s terrified what this means for them. Loyal and faithful friend and colleague Boyd is hoping things will move forward romantically. Come on Lottie, you know you want to…!

A fast paced, twisty and exciting story which I couldn’t put down. Highly recommend.

I was so excited to read this as I'm really a bit too over invested in Lottie Parker and co. Great to see a bit of progress on the Boyd front and the case is interesting enough. I have a real issue with the last few chapters though although it's hard to discuss without spoilers. Basically the approach to a parents reactions to their child's trauma doesn't ring true. The whole plot line with Lotties "new" family members is still a bit messy. I like the new team detective though.